Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Pieces of Finnish folk poetry

LANGUAGE

"Ei sanat sanoihin puutu,
virret veisaten vähene"

Words won't disappear into words,
hymns won't run out because of chants.

- Kanteletar I, 9.

"Mieleni minun tekevi,
aivoni ajattelevi
lähteäni laulamahan,
saa'ani sanelemahan,
sukuvirttä suoltamahan,
lajivirttä laulamahan.
Sanat suussani sulavat,
puhe'et putoelevat,
kielelleni kerkiävät,
hampahilleni hajoovat."

"I have a good mind
take into my head
to start off singing
begin reciting
reeling off a tale of kin
and singing a tale of kind.
The words unfreeze in my mouth
and the phrases are tumbling
upon my tongue they scramble
along my teeth they scatter."

- Kalevala

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